Something I've wondered about is how difficult it would be to change the interior display color from orange to blue.

To the people who have opened up the dash and dug around in there, are the lights in the speedo and tach orange or are they white lights shining through translucent orange plastic/vinyl?

I also reailze that the clock would be a trouble spot, as well.

I'm just wondering out loud. I'm not saying I don't like the orange. I'm just curious. :smile:

 

What I was actually thinking about was adding a set of orange LEDs to the clock/sunroof controls area to illuminate the shifter. I know there is a set that light up the lighter/useless storage area, but wanted something to light up further back, like on other BMWs. Not too excited about making the leap and drilling holes yet though.

Steve

 

What about a shifter **** whose design was translucent and would light up from the inside.

R 1 3 5
|_|_|_|
|_|_|
2 4 6

That would light up orange when the lights were on. That's be pretty cool looking! :smile:

 

I changed my whole interior from orange to blue, here's some info i can share and pics... please NOTE, the pics make the leds look lighter blue than they really are, they are 470nm, so not *deep* blue, but a midway between light blue and deep, they are harder to see in the day light too, but still possible to see... it took me a few hours (tho i did one "Group" at a time, i.e. tach and speedo, auto ac, switches, etc.. seperately.. the LEDs on the bottom of hte switch panel as well as the ones in the seat heater controls are Right Angle LEDs, i had to improvise and take normal ones and put them on their sides.. Behind the LCD on hte Odometer and teh clock have an orange plastic diffuser, while leaving that in will still show blue, it diffuses too much, and i ended up using the waxy paper from a Walgreen Prescription bag, works fine, and avoids the spotlight affect from the LEDs., i DID end up using small pieces of hte orange plastic to dim down the heated seat switches and the flat tired reset LEDs, they're way too bright otherwise.

here are the LED *sizes* (they are all surface mount , except for the flat tire reset)
the majority of the LEDs are, PLCC size, digikey part number: 160-1229-1-ND
the LEDs under the menu button on the NAV, as well as on either end of the LED gas gauge are 805s, digikey part num: 160-1579-1-ND
the LEDs in the cruise control buttons are, 1206s, part number: 160-1401-1-ND
the LED in the Flat Tire reset is a T1 sized blue LED.


and now, to the PICS, please be aware, the actual leds are not as light of blue (they look moreso like the color in the auto AC pic....

Changed to just link to the pics, since this forum seems to load too slow for the pics to pull in..

http://www.geocities.com/sorphin1/dash.html

 

sorphin, pics don't appear to be working :???:

I have 1 question though, have you been able to retain the dimming/brightening
feature?

EDIT: looks like you have to cut/paste the URLs that those links lead to into your browser and then it'll work. Looks good.

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'04 BRG/B S, stockified

 

I changed the pics to links... and yes, it doesn't take away bright/dimming at all, all you're doing is replacing the LEDs that are already there.

>>sorphin, pics don't appear to be working :???:
>>
>>I have 1 question though, have you been able to retain the dimming/brightening feature?

 

That looks really nice! Good job!


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Color me crazy...but I like the orange! Seems like lots of cars I've seen have white or blue dashes...the orange sticks out a little.

 

You're crazy *grin*.. actually the orange blends in too much (my civic had orange) and it makes it harder to differentiate warning lights w/ orange vs blue


>>Color me crazy...but I like the orange! Seems like lots of cars I've seen have white or blue dashes...the orange sticks out a little.

 

man, thats a lot of work. so, they are all surface mount LEDs, ahh, thats lots of fun soldering on those little babys
Good job.
Shane

 

I have driven VW with the "Cool blue" dash lights and it tires my eyes a lot during extended nite driving. I much prefer the stock Orange color which was (or still is used) in aviation.

 

Well, I would love to change them to blue, but I dont think I am ready for that project yet. It seems a bit over my skill level. Any instructions though? I assume the every little LED has to be changed... right? I would love some more info on how this was done. Thanks for the pics... everything looks good!!!

 

>>I have driven VW with the "Cool blue" dash lights and it tires my eyes a lot during extended nite driving. I much prefer the stock Orange color which was (or still is used) in aviation.

Comparing to the blue LED, BMW/MINI's orange illumination is theoretically less stimulating to the human eyes, resulting in decreased fatigue during long drive. By the same token, blue is more visible than orange because it's more stimulating. :smile:


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>>Something I've wondered about is how difficult it would be to change the interior display color from orange to blue.
I've followed this topic alot in the past. There are other threads on NAM and on MINI2.com.
The conversion is difficult.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...0&start=25
and
http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthrea...ge=1&pp=15

>>To the people who have opened up the dash and dug around in there, are the lights in the speedo and tach orange or are they white lights shining through translucent orange plastic/vinyl?
LEDs are orange.

Personally I like the Orange but here is the blue-

 

very nice!

 

Here is a great link to do the LED lights project. I am in the process of "blueing" my interior. I have done all the dash and center console trim rings, next will be the door trim, and then I will change my LED lights to blue!

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ht=blue+lights

 

Any one done green?

 

if someone would make a speedo/tach in diff color (blue), then they'd prolly sell pretty well...